The Republic of Cyprus is an island nation east of the Mediterranean Sea. Sitting on the main Eurasia pathway into the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus has experienced many foreign invasions or occupations for thousands of years. Since its independence from the UK in 1960, officially sovereignty covers the entire island of Cyprus and its surrounding waters, but in reality, the north is de facto occupied by the Turkish backed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and the area effectively ruled by the government of Cyprus accounts for only 63% of the entire island. Northern and southern Cyprus is currently still divided.